Arden Theatre hosts the hot grooves of Marco Claveria Project

Marco Claveria has travelled the Americas as an ambassador of Latin music.

But lately the leader of the Marco Claveria Project has become something of a storyteller determined to create more than infectious bubbling grooves.

In his third as-yet untitled album, the Millwoods-based bandleader, musician and composer sings Fly Away, a ballad laced with Afro-Cuban rhythms. It is a special tribute to a long-time friend who passed away from cancer, leaving behind three young children.

“I didn’t think it was fair it was happening to her,” says Claveria. “When I was writing it, I was taking it from that point of view, but also from a mother’s perspective of losing a child.”

Fly Away is Claveria’s first English composition and the 2015 World Music Awards winner will perform it along with his seven-piece band, the Marco Claveria Project, at the Arden Theatre on Friday, Jan. 27.

His bona fide Latin all-stars are Dean Faulkner (bass) Ryan Timoffee (piano), Audrey Ocha (trombone), Sergio Rodriguez (trumpet), Alessandro Cortez (sax), Nathan Ouellette (drums/percussion) and Israel Berriele (conga).

Together they have built a reputation for turning up the heat and dishing out a high energy, exuberant exhibition.

In his early fifties, Claveria is a proud flame-keeper of Chilean, Cuban, Afro-Peruvian and Brazilian rhythms. He initially earned an international reputation as lyricist and lead singer for Bomba!, a small but powerful music collective.

Born in Santiago, Chile to a musical family, Claveria learned to play the guitar when he was 10. His parents encouraged his attendance at live concerts and he spent his early music days studying Cuecas, Tonadas, Resbaloza and Argentinean sambas.

After Claveria completed high school in 1982, his family moved to Edmonton where they reinforced their culture through Edmonton’s many peĹ„as, local cafĂ© concerts.

“It was supposed to be for a few years, but you start accumulating and 34 years later and you’re still here,” he smiles.

Back in 1989, Claveria joined Sikus, a band that was a mix of Andean grooves fused with rock and jazz. He spent three years in Montreal before returning to graduate from Grant MacEwan Music program.

In the 1990s, Latin music was enjoying a massive wave of popularity across North America. Along with Mario Allende, Rubim de Toledo and Chris Andrew, Claveria formed Bomba!.

Its sophisticated jazz structures and Latin grooves raised the calibre of Latin music across the prairies and became incendiary dance phenomena.

“When we did the Montreal Jazz Festival, people there were shocked to see us from Alberta. Who in their right mind would have believed a group like Bomba! came from Alberta?” he laughs.

During his decade with Bomba!, Claveria exerted a great deal of influence on the Latin music scene. However, in 2005, Claveria struck out on his own broadening his horizons under the banner of Marco Claveria Project.

He has released two albums Essencias (2010) and Origins (2013) and hopes to have another 10-track out by the summer.

With an ongoing maturity and confidence, Claveria encourages music lovers to tune into Latin rhythms.

“Latin music is not just about dancing. It’s full of rhythm and it has a lot of history. I would encourage people to investigate it.”